40 THUGGEEISM. 



older faith, possibly satisfying his conscience by some 

 cunning" interpretation of his favourite doctrine on 

 Fate, or " Kismet." 



Thugs, however, be it stated, never attacked Euro- 

 peans, from fear of detection. Sometimes the crime was 

 committed by one, but usually they banded together 

 in gangs ; and as the favourable moment depended 

 upon good or evil omens, such as the flight of a bird, 

 or other equally trivial incidents, many ingenious de- 

 vices, and frequently disguises, had to be adopted to 

 entrap their victim. A suitable spot having been 

 selected, the latter, under some pretence or other, was 

 wheedled into taking the chosen direction, w^hen little 

 time was lost in despatching him into unknown 

 regions. The modus operandi was that of the Thug- 

 seizing his dupe from behind by slipjDing a knotted 

 handkerchief round his neck, at the same time throw- 

 ing him on his face, and garotting him in the most 

 approved fashion, when, as soon as life was extinct, 

 the body was rifled and secretly buried in the jungle.* 



Previous to 1831 Thuggeeism flourished undisturbed ; 

 nay, is said to have been even countenanced by more 



* " Thuggee," in Hindi, means " deceiver." In Thug parlance the 

 "inveigler" was called " Sotha;" the " strangler," " Chuttote ; " the 

 " victim," " bunij ; " the " handkerchief, " " roomal ; " the " pickaxe," 

 " nishan." — Col. Meadows Taylor's " Seeta." 



